Crossing guard



G. W. GOODMAN cRoslsING GUARD Nov. 3, 1936.

Original Filed April 27, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 l 0500. /QOSE/VHEL D,

Nov. 3, 1936. w GOODMAN Re. 20,157

CROSS ING GUARD original Filed April 27, 1931 5 sheets-sheet 2 Nov. 3,1/936. G. w. GOODMAN CROSSING GUARD Original Filed April 27, 1931 5Sheets-Sheet I5 G. w. GooDMAN Re. 20,157

.am 3 9 l 3. V. o N

CROSSING GUARD Original Filed April 27, 1931 5 Sheets-Shea? 5j/FWE/vrofe ,f GMW/V h/ 60Go/144A; 5) h/Mz/AM 5. Pagflv ai @am ReissuedNov. 3, 1936 PATEixIT OFFICE CROSSING GUARD Glenn 4W. Goodman,

deceased, late ol' Memphis,

Tenn., by William B. Rosenfield, executor,

Memphis, Tenn.,

assigner to The Grade Crossing Guard Corp., Memphis, Tenn., acorporation of Tennessee Original No. 1,878,234, dated September 20,1932,

Serial N0. 533,023, April 27,'4 1931. Application for reissue September18, 1934, Serial No. 744,722

27 Claims.

This invention relates to devi-ces for guarding the approach of streetsor highways to railroad grade crossings, or other street or highwaycrossings and/or intersections, and particularly to devices which areactuated by the approach of a train to said crossings and/orintersections, and which interpose rst a warning signal and there.-after a positive barrier to prevent vehicles from reaching the crossing.The invention is` of the same general class of apparatus as is shown inprior Patent No. 1,494,540.

The objects of this invention are:

First to provide a device of the character described Which will risequickly to warning position, th-en slowly through a limited period andthereafter rises rapidly to blocking position;

To provide means for accomplishing this varying speed;

To provide means for absorbing the shock incidental to a Ve-hiclestriking the barrier independent of the hinging means;

To provide means for supporting loads crossing the barrier independentof the hinging means; and 25 To provide means whereby vehicles leavingthe crossing will not be impeded in their movement.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects are accomplished andthe manner of their accomplishment will readily be understood from 30the following specification on reference to th accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the tracks and highway at a grade crossing,showing my invention applied in operative position;

95 Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially along the centerline of the highway and showing the guard set in blocking position as byan approaching train;

Fig. 3 is a. section taken as on the line III-III of Fig. 1;

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary sections taken as on the line IV-IV ofFig. 1, showing a front view of the guard in partially raised or warningposition and in fully raised or blocking position respectively;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line VI-VI of Fig. 3, showing theguard in lowered position and the dash pot which regulates raisingspeed;

Fig. '7 is a` similar section taken as on the line VII- VII of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section taken on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line IX-X of Figs. 3 and 10;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of yindependent of thehinge.

(ci. ssi- 6),

-or casings I2. Preferably the sides I3, I4 of those boxes are ofchannel iron, the channels being connected at their ends by crosschannels forming lthe ends of the boxes, and at intervals, by smallertransverse supporting channels I5 extending across the bottom of thebox, all of these parts preferably being secured together by welding.

Preferably concrete bottoms I6 are placed in `the pits and the boxes I2placed thereon and concreted in. Each box is provided with a hinged ytopI'I made up of a plurality of sections, which may be independentlydepressed so that any section' can be depressed by a vehicle which hascrossed and is leaving the track Without affecting those sections whichat the same time are blocking approach to the track. Each section isprovided vwith two or more hinges each comprising ablock I8 secured tothe underside of the top adjacent the back edge thereof and carrying ahinge pin I9 which pin is supported by a pair of resilient bracketswhich are secured to and supported by the back channel I4 of the box.These hinges are here shown as plain pin bearings, but it will of coursebe understood that any Vof the usual types of ball or roller bearing maybe employed in the hinges if it be so desired. Depending from the frontedge of the top is an arcuate stop plate or bumper 2| which bumper isadapted to be swung upward to the dotted position 2 I-A of Fig. 7, beingthe positions also indicated in Fig. 2, to form a stop sign and bumper.In accomplishing the movement to the position 2 I-A the top I1 moves tothe position I'I-A.

When in lowered position the bumper 2| rests on the supporting channelsI5 and supports the yfront edge of the top I1, at the same time the backedge of the top is supported by the hinge before described. In such`position however. any weight passing over the tcp depresses theresilient hinge brackets 20 and brings the hinge block I8 to bear on asupport 22 which is carried by the rear channel I3, thus providing asolid support Likewise in raised position the thrust incident to theimpact of a lmoving `vehicle causes the resilient hinge bracket 20 tomove rearwardly and transfer such thrust directly to the channel I3forming the back of the box. In resisting such action, the front edge ofthe top section is held against lifting, by engagement of lugs 2I-X(Fig. '1 with the underside of the top iiange of the front channel I4.The hinge may therefore be made of only sumcient strength to support theweight of the pans instead of being of the strength necessary to supportthe load or absorb the impact shocks, and hinge movement of the topmaybe made without undue friction. y

A11 the top sections of both boxeszare 'raised ooncurrently. Each box isprovided with s. reversible motor 23 which preferably is located in anindependent compartment 114., atthe end. of the box. Each motor isconnected bysuitable current wires 25, 25 R. which may be .a ,part-Eefthebhck lighting system now almost universally employed on railroads, orindependent wiring and current source may be used. The current wireslead from both motors to and along the tracks to remote control boxes 26which are actuated by the passing of a train.

21 is a control box located adjacent the lhighway which box actingthrough the current wires 25 R reverse the motors when the train reachesthe crossing. The detail and action of these control devices being wellknown in block signal practice and not being specifically a part-of thepresent invention need not be herein set out. Each motor is connectedvby suitable gearing .28 preferably worm gearing w-ith a shaft 29extending longitudinally of the box.

Secured to the shaft 29 -are .arms 38 and 3| which are oscillatedthereby, the action of these being identical except that the arms -38actuate two sections, and the larm `3| one section, -three sectionshaving been shown i-n the present device. Each arm may handle twosectionsonlyso that were four sections shown, two arms only would `stillbe necessary, whereas with five or six sections three arms would benecessary. The arm is connected through a link 32 with a second arm 33mounted on and 'secured to a rocker shaft-34, and the arm 3| similarlyconnected.

'Ihe shaft 34 is supported by Abrackets .35 which are secured to andextend outward from 4the back channel I3. Mounted on and fsecured to theshaft 34 as by pins, are hubs `36 from which project arms 31l eachhaving a pawl 38, ywhich engages the teeth of corresponding ratchets 39.The ratchets 39 are in turn provided with hubs 40 to which torsion.springs 4I are secured by pins 42. These torsion springs are ldisposedaround the shaft '34, extend therealong inoppo- .rsite directions from`the hubs -48 andhave their opposite ends 43 engaged with lugs 44 whichextend from forked lifting arms 45. Each of the arms 45 is provided withan integral hub from which it extends, .the hubs `being oscillatablymounted on non-rotating shafts-41 which are in direct alignment with theshaft 34.

Each of these shafts '41 is supported at one end by a braclcet 48`through which it extends. 49 are sleeves mounted on and supported bythe projecting ends of shafts 41. The ends of the shaft 34 also extendinto the sleeves 49 and are supported thereby, the sleeves preferablybeingsecured von lthe ends of this latter 'shaft as by set screws. Theopposite ends of the shafts 41 are carried by brackets 50, through whichthey xproject. ySecured `on these projecting -ends are .ratchets l5I.,which are'held against rotation by pawls` similar to the pawls 28.Disposed on -and v Jpin 51.

ypacking 84 should it be so desired. ate Vthe 'height of the cylinderwall are ports 85,

secured to the shaft 41 is a collar 53 and disposed around the shaft isa balance spring 54 which has one end secured to the collar 53 and theopposite end to the lifting arm 45. This spring acts to lift a topsection I1 and is adjusted to practically balance the weight thereof bytightening it through the ratchet 5|. Each of the sections is `similarlybalanced.

The lifting arrn 45 is provided with a yoke 55 to which a connecting rod56 is connected by a The opposite end of this connecting rod 56 isconnected by a pin 58 and bracket 59 with the arcuate bumper 2|, of itstop section I1,

- each vtop section being similarly connected.

Disposed parallel to the driving shaft 29 and l the rocker shaft 34, isa. countershaft 69 which shaft is cscillatably mounted in the bracket 35and additional brackets as 6I, 62. This shaft crosses the path lof oneof the lifting arms 45 4and for that reason is provided with an offsetyoke 63 which lies between the bracket 6I and 62. This yoke is rigidlyconnected to the two sections of the countershaft and causes thesesections to act as a single straight shaft. Mounted on and rigidlysecured to the countershaft 6I! is an arm G4 which is pin connected tothe plunger 65 of a dash pot 66, the action of which will be hereinafterdescribed. Likewise secured to the shaft 60 are a plurality of arms 61,one for each of the top sections. Depending from each top section is arod 68, connected by a pin 69 and a bracket 19, with its top section andwhich rod passes through a suitable hole in .a hub 1I which projects'laterally from the arm 61. Disposed on the end of the rod 68 is a nut12. 'Ihe vrod 68 may thus move freely downward through the hub 1I but isprevented from moving upward when the nut 12 seats against the undersideof the hub 1I.

vThe dash potl B6 is pivotally supported by a pin 15 which projectslaterally therefrom near the bottom thereof and which in turn issupported by va pair of transverse members 16 extending from the frontchannel I4 to the rear channel I3 and preferably secured thereto as bywelding. These transverse members also serve as supports for the shaft29 and are cut away `at 11 so that they may not interfere with thedownward `swing of the arcuate bumper 2|.

'The dash pot 66 comprises a hollow cylinder in which is mounted aplunger 80, this plunger being provided with the usual cup leather 8|.

y'The upper endof the dash pot is closed by an annular ange 82 securedin place by an annular Acap r83 between which may be disposed stemIntermedi- 86, which are independently regulated by needle valves 81, 88respectively. These ports lead from a passageway 89 which is incommunication with the interior of the bottom of the cylinder.

The plunger 88 is provided with a central passageway 90 in directcommunication at its upper end with the interior of the cylinder and atlits lower end has ports 9| which are closed on the downward stroke ofthe plunger by a spring controlled check valve 92, which valve opens onthe upward stroke of the plunger to allow free return flow from theupper part of the cylinder to the lower part thereof. The plunger alsois provided with an annular passageway 93 which vis in `communicationthrough a suitable passageway with the bottom of the cylinder.

It will Vbe understood that the dash pct is substantially filled withoil, that it acts only on the downward stroke of the plunger and that atthe beginning of such stroke the cup leather 8| is positionedimmediately below the port 85. Downward movement of the plunger forcesoil through the passageway 89 and the port 85 into the upper part of thecylinder. The speed with which oil flow is allowed is controlled by theamount of opening of the needle valve 81, and this particular speed ofi'low continues until the cup leather passes the port 86, therebyestablishing communication through both ports to the upper portion ofthe cylinder. Thereafter such speed of flow as may be desired may beobtained by regulation of the needle valve 88.

'Ihe arcuate bumper 2| of the sections is preferably painted as shown inFigs. 4 and 5 with the word Stop repeated such number of times as may bedesired, occupying an upper belt somewhat less than half the depth ofthe bumper, and with alternate black and white lines as shown` in Fig.5, occupying the lower and larger belt. If desired red glass reflectors95 such as are commonly used in stop signs may be inserted along theupper edge of the block between the various repetitions of the word Stopand should it be so desired light bulbs may be positioned as is usualbehind any or all of these, such lights being operated by the samecircuit as that which operates the motors.

In using this device two of the boxes are installed at each crossing ofthe highway with the railroad. Each box having the bumper facing awayfrom the track and in the path of approaching vehicles.

During the time when no trains are approaching the crossing, the tops ofthe boxes lie flush with the pavement, 'vehicles passing thereovermerely slightly depressing the hinged edges so that the weight of thevehicles is carried by solid material.

As a train approaches, the engine passing the control box establishes acircuit through the motor which is maintained during the minute fractionof time, ordinarily from three to ve seconds which is necessary for theactuation of the motor to raise the tops I1 and bumpers 2| to their fullheight. 'I'hereafter the control box, as is usual in such devices. cutsoff and is not further affected by train movement and such inactioncontinues until the usual time relay of such control again acts or untilthe train reaches the crossing and acting through the control box atsuch point reverses the action of the motor for a similar length oftime.

During the action of the motor the shaft 29 is oscllated approximatelydegrees moving the armv 30, the connecting link 32 and the shaft 34correspondingly. This motion is transmitted to the lifting springs 4Iand these springs are given the full amount of movement necessary toraise the box tops to their full height and the strain necessary forsuch purpose is transmitted through these springs to the lifting arms 45and through these arms and the connecting rods 56 to the bumpers and topsections. This strain acts almost instantaneously to raise the bumpersand display the warning lights and the words Stop. At this time also thenuts 12 of the rods 68 seat against the hubs v'Il of the arms 61, andthrough the countershaft 60 and arm 64 the dash pot action is broughtinto play to check and regulate further movement. Further movement ofthese parts is accomplished only at such speed as the dash pot willallow. This upward movement which may be regulated as desired byadjustment of the needle valves is thereafter very slow until the cupleather of the plunger in its downward movement reaches and passes thelower port so that the warning Words Stop which were quickly moved intoposition, for an additional period, move very slowly and give amplewarning to approaching trafc that the device is in operation, and atrain is approaching. During such upward movement and until the end ofthis second period upward projection of the stop block is so slight thatan approaching vehicle readily forces the bumper downward and passesthereover so that vehicles which are too close to the sign to stop maywith safety and without discomfort pass over the device. It will benoted in this connection that only the lifting power of the springs needbe overcome and that such downward motion merely relieves the pressureon the dash pot but is in no way affected by or transmitted to the dashpot itself.

At the end of this second period the dash pot plunger uncovers the lowerneedle valve port and rapid upward movement of the sign and stop blockis permitted. Thereafter the device becomes an actual bumper topositively prevent vehicles approaching the track, and vehiclesapproaching which have not obeyed the command of the stop sign areforcibly prevented from passing.

It will of course be understood that in any position of the tops, avehicle passing away from the tracks may push the tops down and passthereover with entire ease and safety, and that immediately after suchpassage the device will resume its blocking and warning position.

It will be understood that the balance springs are for the purpose ofbalancing the weight of the tops so that the only work of the liftingspring is to accomplish the movement of the parts. It will be furtherunderstood that since the entire support of passing vehicles and theshock of impact is borne by solid abutments within the boxes and not bythe hinges that these hinges may be made comparatively light and theactuation thereof will require little power.

The foregoing description has been confined to the device as applied toa highway approach to a railroad crossing but it will readily beunderstood that it is equally applicable to street or highway crossingsor intersection with other streets or highways.

Having described the invention, what is claimed 1s: f

1. A crossing guard, comprising a bumper clisposed across a highwayapproach to said crossing below the surface thereof and adapted to beelevated above said surface, an intermediate member actuatably carriedby said casing, resilient means connecting said intermediate member andsaid bumper, means for actuating said intermediate member to raise saidbumper, and means connected to said bumper for restraining upward speedthereof, and means for decreasing restraining action at a predeterminedpoint.

2. A guard for a crossing, comprising a bumper disposed across a highwayapproach to said crossing below the surface thereof, and adapted to beelevated above said surface, an intermediate member actuatably carriedby said casing, resil-` straining vmeans for decreasing restrainingaction at a predetermined point.

3. A guard for a crossing, comprising a bumper disposed across a highwayapproach to said crossing below the surface thereof and adapted to beelevated above said surface, an intermediate member actuatably carriedby said casing, resilient means connecting said intermediate member andsaid bumper, means for actuating said intermediate member to raisesaidbumper, means connected to said bumper for restraining upward speedthereof, means actuated by said restraining means for decreasingrestraining action at a predetermined point, and means for reverselyactuating said member.

4. In a guard for a crossing, a casing, a cover therefor, a bumpersecured to the front edge of said cover, extending downward and seatingwithin said casing to support the front edge of said cover, a supportcarried by said casing and disposed below the rear of said cover and aresiliently supported hinge secured to said cover and said casing,normally supporting the rear of said cover out of contact with saidsupport.

5. In a guard for a crossing, a casing, a cover therefor, a bumpersecured to the front edge of said cover, extending downward and seatingwithin said casing to support the front edge of said cover, a supportcarried by said casing and disposed below the rear of said cover, anabutment disposed behind said cover, and resiliently supported hingessecured to said cover and said casing, normally supporting the rear ofsaid cover out of contact with said support, and said abutment.

6. In a guard for a crossing, a casing, a cover therefor, a bumpersecured to the front edge of said cover, extending downward and seatingwithin said casing to support the front edge of said cover, a supportcarried by said casing and disposed below the rear of said cover andhinges each having one leg secured to said cover and each having aresilient leg secured to said casing, said hinges normally supportingthe rear of said cover out of contact with said support.

7. In a guard for a crossing, a casing, a cover therefor, hinges eachhaving one leg secured to the rear edge of said cover and each having aresilient leg secured to said casing, a bumper depending from the frontedge of said cover within said casing, and supported therein, and asupport within said casing for the rear edge of said top, said top beingnormally held out of engagement with said support by said hinge.

8. A guard for a crossing, comprising a casing, a hinged covertherefor'and means for raising said cover; said casing having are-entrant top front edge, said cover having its hinges resilientlysupported by said casing, said casing extending upward behind said coverto form an abutment for the rear thereof, a support integral with saidcasing extending beneath the rear of said cover, but out of contacttherewith, a bumper secured to the forward edge of said cover anddepending within said casing, and members extending forwardly from thelower edge of said bumper, and adapted to engage said re-entrant edgewhen said cover is raised, whereby raising of said top is limited andthrust due to impact against said bumper is taken by said members andsaid support independent of said hinges.

9. A guard for a crossing, comprising a, bumper disposed across ahighway approach to said crossing below the surface thereof and adaptedto be elevated above said surface, means for exerting pressure to raisesaidbumper, means connected to said bumper for restraining upward speedthereof, and means for decreasing such restraining action at apredetermined point.

10. A guard for a crossing, comprising a bumper disposed across ahighway approach to said crossing below the surfacethereof and adaptedto be elevated above said surface, means for exerting pressure to raisesaid bumper and for releasing said pressure, means connected to saidbumper for restraining the raising speed thereof, and means fordecreasing such restraining action at a predetermined point.

11. A highway guard comprising a bumper disposed across the highwaybelow the surface thereof and adapted tobe elevated above said surface,means for raising said bumper to a warning position, said warningposition being such that vehicles going in both directions may crossthereover and said means thereafter raising said bumper to a barrierposition, such barrier position being such that vehicles going in onedirection are prevented from passing thereover.

12. A highway guard comprising a bumper disposed across the highwaybelow the surface thereof and adapted to be elevated above said surface,means for raising said bumper to a warning position, said warningposition being such that vehicles going in both directions may crossthereover and said means thereafter raising said bumper to a barrierposition, such barrier position being such that vehicles going in onedirection are prevented from passing thereover, said bumper beingdepressible so that vehicles going in the opposite direction may passthereover.

13. A highway guard for a railway crossing comprising a bumper, disposedacross the highway approach to said crossing below the surface thereofand adapted to be elevated above said surface, means for raising saidbumper to a warning position, said warning position being -such thatvehicles going in both directions may cross thereover, and said meansthereafter raising said bumper to a barrier position, such bar-` rierposition being such that vehicles going toward said railroad crossingare prevented from passing thereover, said bumper being depressible sothat vehicles going in the opposite direction may pass thereoverl 14. Ahighway guard comprising a bumper disposed across the highway below thesurface thereof and adapted to be elevated above said surface, means forelevating said bumper, and

means for effecting a hesitation to said move-v ment during the initialelevating movement t provide a warning. i

15. A highway guard comprising a bumper dis posed across the highwaybelow the surface thereof and adapted to be elevated above said surface,means for raising said bumper to an elevated position, and control meansfor said moving means to cause said movement to occur in a plurality ofsuccessive distinct steps.

16. A highway guard comprising a bumper disposed across the highwaybelow the surface thereof and adapted to be elevated above said surface,means to elevate said bumper, and control means for said elevating meanseffective to vary the speed of movement of said bumper and` i therebysegregate said bumper movement into a warning stage and a final stage.

17. A highway guard comprising a bumper disposed across a highway belowthe surface thereof and adapted to be elevated above said surface,

means to elevate said bumper, and control means for said elevating meansactuable in accordance with the movement of said elevating means foreffecting a hesitation in the movement of said bumper.

18. A highway guard comprising a bumper disposed across a highway belowthe surface thereof and adapted to be elevated above said surface, meansto elevate said bumper, and means to segregate said elevating movementinto a plurality of stages including a warning stage, comprising meanscontrolled in accordance with the movement of said elevating means.

19. A protective device comprising a guard; means for normallysupporting said guard in a retracted position with respect to asupporting surface; means for moving said guard to an extended position;mechanism connecting said guard and said moving means comprising meansactuable in accordance with the movements of said guard and effective tovary the speed of movement of said guard and thereby segregate themovements of said guard into an initial warning movement and a finalelevating movement.

20. In a protective device, a guard; means for normally supporting saidguard in a retracted position with respect to a supporting surface;means for moving said guard to an elevated position comprising a fluidpressure operated device; and means responsive to the movement of saidbarrier for controlling said fluid pressure device to thereby controlthe rate of movement of said guard.

21. A guard comprising an elongated casing having front and rear walls,a projectable and retractable cover for said casing having a bumper faceformed thereon, said face being disposed when said cover is in theretracted position to extend downwardly within said casing, and meansincluding a plurality of transverse supports extending between saidfront and rear walls adjacent the base of said casing for engagement bysaid bumper face to support the same when in retracted position.

22. A guard comprising an elongated casing,

having front and rear walls, a projectable and retractable cover forsaid casing having a bumper face adjacent one edge thereof disposed toextend downwardly into said casing when in retracted position, meansforming a pivotal connection between an opposite edge of said cover andcasing, and means including a plurality of transverse supports extendingbetween said front and rear walls adjacent the base of said casing forengagement by said bumper face to support the same.

23. In a guard comprising an elongated retractably and projectablysupported barrier member, the combination of a rotatable drive shaftassociated with said barrier and extending parallel thereto, a torsionspring, means supporting said torsion spring in spaced parallel relationto said drive shaft,'means forming a connection between one end of saidtorsion spring and said barrier, and additional means forming aconnection between the other end of said spring and said drive shaft.

24. In a guard comprising a retractably and projectably supportedbarrier, the combination of a rotatable drive shaft extending parallelto a face of said barrier, a second shaft, a torsion spring carried bysaid second shaft, means forming a connection between one end of saidtorsion spring and said barrier, and means forming an actuatingconnection between the other end of said torsion spring and said driveshaft.

25. A guard comprising an elongated casing having front and rear walls,a projectable and retractable cover for said casing formed as a bumper,means supporting said cover in said casing for movement betweenprojected and retracted positions, said supporting means being arrangedto permit said cover to directly engage said casing in the event ofimpact on said bumper so that forces of said impact are transmitteddirectly from said cover to said casing.

26. A guard comprising an elongated casing having front and rear walls,a projectible and retractable cover for said casing formed to provide abumper, means resiliently supporting said cover in said casing, andmeans including an abutment formed in said casing and disposed to bedirectly engaged by said cover in the event of impact on said bumper, sothat forces of said impact are transmitted directly from said cover tosaid cas- 1ng.

27. In a guard comprising a retractable and projectable barrier, controlmeans for said barrier actuable to effect a projecting movement thereofto a projected position including resilient means, said control meansbeing adapted to permit a depressing movement of said barrier againstthe force of said resilient meansy said resilient means being effectiveafter said depressing movement to cause a return movement of saidbarrier to said projected position, and speed retarding means associatedwith said barrier for controlling the rate of said return movement.

- WILLIAM B. ROSENFIELD, Executor of the Last Will and Testament ofGlenn W. Goodman, Deceased.

